Devotional and Reading from Psalm 46:1-4
Psalm 46:1–4
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth
. 1God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalm 46 is one of my favorite Psalms. I am not alone in that, many Christians have claimed it as a favorite too. Martin Luther in times of difficulty was said to go to a friend and say, “Come, let us sing the forty sixth Psalm”. His own song, “A Mighty Fortress” was based on Psalm 46.
Historically, Psalm 46 is said to have been written by King Hezekiah during the invasion of Assyria. You can read about that in Isaiah 36-37 and 2 Chronicles 32.
Outside the walls, the Assyrian army surrounded the city of Jerusalem and with superior military force would certainly choke them out.
Inside, Hezekiah led the people to pray and through Divine intervention they endured the siege and prevailed.
Notice the introduction.
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth
The Sons of Korah were Levites in charge of singing, Alamoth is probably the sopranos, the women who participated in singing worship songs.
Please get the picture, outside the enemies think they are in a great position, outside they think it is just a matter of time until the water supply runs out and everyone inside surrenders.
Then they hear singing, the voices of the ladies behind the walls sound sweet, soft and safe. Outside the walls they ask,
“why are they singing?”
“Don’t they realize the bad shape they are in?”
“Do they know something that we don’t know?”
Yes! They had a shelter, a fortress that was stronger than any army and more secure than any wall. That mighty fortress was their God.
My favorite verse is verse four.
Psalm 46:4
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Those on the outside did not know that Hezekiah had led in the construction of an aqueduct cut into rock.
This conduit is mentioned in Isaiah 7. Those hidden pipes were bringing a secret supply of life-giving water to those thirsty souls inside the city walls.
Outside the messengers of the King of Assyria were spewing threats about how those on the inside would thirst to death but on the inside they were drinking refreshing water!
Remember, we that know the Lord have something within us that those on the outside don’t know or understand, living water and unlimited supplies.
John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
How can we keep going?
How can we endure?
It will only be because we have a hidden supply, streams of living water that make glad the people of God.